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[00:00:00]
Jason Croft: It's the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. I'm Jason Croft, and this time around, it's only a memory.

[00:00:28]
Speaker 1: [unclear]

[00:03:13]
Jason Croft: Welcome to the Atomic Age Cocktail Party featuring music from the golden age of the hi-fi and beyond. The vocal group the Four Freshmen there with their great harmonies and the tune "I Remember You." That's a number that was originally written in 1941 by Johnny Mercer and Victor Schertzinger, and written about and after Mercer's love affair with Judy Garland. The version there from the Four Freshmen is from their release, "Four Freshmen and Five Trombones," from 1955.

This week we're all about memories and the act of remembering. "Only a Memory" is what we're calling the program. A look at those songs from the hi-fi era that tap into thoughts of the past. Good memories, bittersweet memories, memories of what has been and what may never have been. Songs that are often tied to nostalgia. We have some great standards as well as some really fun hidden gems. On the way, Earl Grant has a thought. Ray Anthony is unforgettable, and Bobby Troup is begging you, please.

Right now, it's the chairman of the board, Frank Sinatra, and a wonderful song about the remembrance of a love gone away. It's "Yellow Days" and it's right here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party.

[00:04:52]
Speaker 2: I do remember when the sunlight had a special kind of brightness. And the laughter held a lover's kind of lightness. Yellow days. Yellow [unclear]. She would hold. And a smile would spread around us so. And the soft [unclear].

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Speaker 1: [unclear]

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Speaker 2: Yellow. Yellow. But then came thunder. And I heard [unclear]. My heart wants to know, where'd you go? Life is empty. [So] harsh instead of [tender]. Oh, I remember. From yellow. Yellow days. But then came [unclear]. Goodbye. Now I'm [heartbroken and my] heart wants to know, where did you go? I [am] empty. And the sunlight seemed so harsh instead of tender. I remember yellow. Yellow. Yellow.

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Speaker 3: Days. Please remember how I feel when you're near to me. Heaven knows it's so clear to see. But I'm caught in your spell. Please remember feeling bad when we had a spat. Feeling wonderful after that. Please remember it well. The peaceful [road. It's] way out in the country. The words that we didn't say. But we didn't [need] and [the] conversation. We liked it just that [way]. Please remember how I look when I look at you. So in love that it shows right through. This I ask you to do. Please remember. And I [unclear].

[00:13:29]
Jason Croft: It's a radio show that always says the magic word. It's the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. I'm Jason Croft. "Only a Memory" is our show this week. [Songs] about memory and the act of remembering. Singer, songwriter, actor Bobby Troup right there, asking nicely, "Please Remember" — that's the title of that one. That's a tune from the pen of Troup himself. It's a quick little song painting some great moments of memory. Russ Garcia and his orchestra helping out with the music. This is from the album "Here's to My Lady" from 1958, dedicated to his wife and someone Troup could not forget, the lovely Miss Julie London.

Before that, the light and breezy sounds of Billy Vaughn, and "It's Easy to Remember." The 1965 album "Mexican Pearls" is where this track comes from. It's one of three LPs that he released that year. Yeah, Vaughn was one of the more prolific artists of the hi-fi era, putting out over 40 albums between 1952 and 1970.

And Old Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, started us off with "Yellow Days." This is from his 1968 release, "Francis A. and Edward K." The album title refers to himself, Francis Albert, and one Edward Kennedy Ellington, AKA the great Duke Ellington. And the killer arrangement for that number, well, it's done by the one and only Billy May. Such a great track all around.

"Only a Memory" is our show this week, and here's a standard about hoping another keeps remembering you. It's the tune "Once in a While," performed here by the John LaSalle Quartet, and it's right here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party.

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Speaker 1: Once in a while. Will you try to [unclear]. Once in a while. Will you dream the [same]. Once in a while.

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Speaker 4: [unclear]

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Speaker 1: [unclear]

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Speaker 5: [unclear] ago I re[member] one day. And that dream is here [with] me. The sky [was] overcast. The clouds have passed. You're [here]. [Down] my spine. Aladdin's [lamp, I] dream [of] me. Then I [unclear].

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Speaker 1: [unclear]

[00:23:57]
Jason Croft: It's the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. Thanks for tuning in. This week, we're looking at songs from the hi-fi era about memory and the act of remembering — the good memories, the bittersweet memories, memories of what was and what has been lost.

Singer Jackie Parris there, and remembering a past dream that has become real — "Long Ago and Far Away," the name of that one. That's a tune from two musical powerhouses, Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin. It's from the 1944 movie musical "Cover Girl," starring Gene Kelly and Rita Hayworth. And I'll let you figure out which one was the Cover Girl. What we heard was from a 1962 album that Jackie Parris did that I just can't get enough of right now. It's called "Jackie Parris Sings the Lyrics of Ira Gershwin."

Before that, Earl Grant and "The Very Thought of You." That's from the album "Beyond the Reef and Other Instrumental Favorites" from 1962. Earl Grant there on the piano and the organ. And up front there on the saxophone, one of the best sax session players of the era, Mr. Plas Johnson.

And we kicked off that set with the great voices of the John LaSalle Quartet and "Once in a While." This is a song written in 1937 by Michael Edwards, who did the music, and Bud Green, who did the lyrics. It was a big hit for Tommy Dorsey and Patti Page early on. It later got new life during the doo-wop era by the band The Chimes. The version we heard from John LaSalle and company is from their 1959 album, "Potluck."

"Only a Memory" is our theme this week, and for you now, the cool cocktail sounds of Jackie Gleason, featuring the smooth trumpet stylings of Bobby Hackett. It's "Just a Memory," and it's right here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party.

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Speaker 6: [unclear]

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Speaker 1: [unclear]

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Jason Croft: It's the perfect garnish for your late-night nightcap. It's the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. "Only a Memory" is our program this week. Songs about memory and the act of remembering.

Right there, Jo Stafford and "Something to Remember You By." A wonderful number from her released in 1952, featuring her husband Paul Weston and his orchestra, and the Norman Luboff Choir. The number was originally from the 1930 Broadway musical "Three's a Crowd," with music and lyrics by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz.

We also had some hi-fi stereophonic fun from one of the best in the business, Enoch Light, and "Remember," adding a little hi-fi harp to that one. That's from "Enoch Light and His Orchestra at Carnegie Hall Play Irving Berlin." It came out in 1962, and of course, was on the Command Records label.

And we started that set with the smooth cocktail sounds of Jackie Gleason, along with trumpeter Bobby Hackett, and "Just a Memory." Yes, smooth indeed. That's from the 1957 release "Music for the Love Hours." Yes, no one did mood records in the 1950s like Jackie Gleason. I could listen to them all day.

We're looking at hi-fi songs focused on memory this week, and here's another great memory song standard. It's "Memories of You." It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1930. Fast forward a quarter of a century to 1955, and here's a great take of it from Rosemary Clooney featuring the Benny Goodman Trio. And it's right here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party.

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Speaker 6: Waking skies at sunrise, every sunset seems to be bringing me memories of you. Here and there, everywhere, scenes that we once

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Speaker 1: [unclear]

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Speaker 6: And they all just recall memories of you. I wish I could forget those happy years that have left [a trail] of tear[s]. Your face beams in my dreams [in] spite of all I do. [Everything] seems to bring memories of you.

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Speaker 7: No[n dimen]ticar[e].

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Speaker 8: [unclear]

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Speaker 7: [Non dimenticare] means don't forget you are my darling. Don't forget to be [mine]. All you mean to me. My love is like a star, my darling. Shining bright and [true], just because you're here. Please do not [forget] that our lips have met and I've held you tight.

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Speaker 8: Was it dreams ago

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Speaker 7: my heart felt this glow

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Speaker 8: [or] only just tonight.

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Speaker 7: Although you travel far, my darling.

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Speaker 8: It's my heart you own. So I'll [unclear].

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Speaker 7: [Non dimenticare]

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Speaker 8: la la del destino. No[n] [il] [com]panoe[mento] [unclear] sempre [a]te vicino. You travel far, my darling. It's my heart you own, so I'll wait.

[00:46:06]
Jason Croft: It's the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. "Only a Memory" is our show this week, taking a look at songs from the hi-fi era that touch on memory and the act of remembering. And there['s] one of the most unforgettable songs about not being able to forget someone. Of course, that is the number "Unforgettable," performed here by Ray Anthony and his orchestra. This is a recording that's actually from the modern era. Yes, bringing those great big band sounds to a new generation. It's from the 1992 release "In the Miller Mood," of course referring to big band leader Glenn Miller. And Ray Anthony spent his early professional years playing with Glenn Miller. Started when he was 18, and then Ray Anthony went on to play with Jimmy Dorsey before starting his own groups. And from then on, Ray Anthony went on to make great music up through the end of the 1990s.

Before that, we had a man who had a big hit with the tune "Unforgettable," but here doing a little world traveling. That was "Non Dimenticare" — "Don't Forget" — by Nat King Cole, adding a little Italiano to that number, creating a bit of a memory circuit breaker in there, musically speaking, so the object of the song doesn't forget. That's from 1958 with frequent collaborator Nelson Riddle conducting the orchestra and chorus.

And that set started with Rosemary Clooney and "Memories of You." As I mentioned, this was recorded with the Benny Goodman Trio, and of course, that's Benny Goodman there on the clarinet, getting a nice big opening at the start of the number. This is from a single from 1955 that was later released on a 1956 LP called "Date with the King."

Well, you're listening to the Atomic Age Cocktail Party, celebrating the golden age of the hi-fi and beyond. If you like what you're listening to, don't forget to stop by our website at atomicagecocktailparty.com for playlists, show archives, and a lot more. If you have any show ideas or comments, you can get a hold of us there as well. atomicagecocktailparty.com.

One more set of music left in our "Only a Memory" program, and some of the best memory songs are those that list out what made those memories so good. Case in point, here's Mr. Vegas, Wayne [Newton], and "Remember When We Made These Memories." And it's right here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party.

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Speaker 9: Pizza pies and carousels, the wishing well[s], Switzerland, we loved it too, although we left there black and blue. [unclear] These photographs we snapped in Spain. True [unclear].

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Speaker 4: [unclear] kisses. You'll find my razor. Who's gonna know that you [unclear] 100 years from today. I crave a penthouse. That's a [unclear] queen. You're [unclear]. If you had [unclear] from today. So laugh and [sing and] make love. There's always [unclear] one [unclear] me [whose] bone[s] to make you [unclear]. [The moon] is shining and that's a good [sign]. And remember [unclear] 100 years. 100 years. The moon is shining. That's a good sign. Cling to me closer. Remember 100 years. [100 years.] From today.

[00:54:44]
Jason Croft: Wrapping up our "Only a Memory" program here on the Atomic Age Cocktail Party. [Songs] about memory and the act of remembering. There['s] a song that takes a little different tack on the idea of memory. That was June Christy and "100 Years from Today." Thinking about how folks in the future will have no memory of the love affairs of the folks of today, so why not just act on your feelings now? It's a real interesting argument. That comes from Christy's 1959 album, ["June Christy Recalls Those Kenton Days,"] and that album title itself, another act of memory.

And we begin[ned] with Wayne [Newton] and "Remember When We Made These Memories." A song co-written by easy listening bandleader Bert Kaempfert. And what a great list of world traveling memories. That's from the 1966 album, "Wayne Newton Now."

Well, that just about does it for our show this week. Make sure you're here again for more fun from the golden age of the hi-fi and beyond. Gonna leave you with one more, and of course, you knew we'd have to include this [one] — one of the most famous memory songs around. It was the tune known as Bob Hope's theme song. The version we have for you is from Dave Pell from his 1963 album "Jazz Voices in Video." It's "Thanks for the Memory." Until next time, this is Jason Croft saying, keep swinging. The Atomic Age Cocktail Party is a production of Illinois Public Media.